The Obama administration took significant steps backwards in the war on crime. The former president was responsible for reducing prison sentences on drug offenders. Although he was praised by some conservatives for the measure, including the Koch brothers, front line police officers were staunchly against it. They told stories of increased risk on the job, with more danger for civilians as well.
Steven H. Cook, a former frontline cop turned Knoxville federal prosecutor, shared this view. He was brave enough to say it in front of conservatives and liberals alike, with one of his most widely known speeches made at a panel headed by The Washington Post.
True to form, Obama completely ignored Cook.
However, Cook has been more than fully redeemed by the Trump administration, namely Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions brought Cook into the Justice Department’s inner circle very recently. Cook is one of the few people with the understanding to help undo the disastrous policies of former Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration.
Law enforcement agencies across the nation are expressing gratitude at the move. It is too early to announce any big policy changes, but the Cook move sent a definitive signal to the legal industry as to where the administration was heading on the issue of crime. Sessions and Cook, according to some law enforcement officials in the know, are currently working on a plan to prosecute gun and drug cases a la pre-Obama policies. They are also going after changes that will bring in the mandatory minimum sentences of the 1980s and 1990s.
Opponents point to the reduction in crime apparent over the past few years – numbers that have been highly manipulated because of Obama era policies. Because certain offenses were basically decriminalized, statisticians had no choice but to report less crime. As for the deleterious effects of certain people’s negative actions in poor and minority communities, they remained the exact same.
The so-called reduction in crime comes at a point when many communities are experiencing spikes in homicide rates. The most famous of these communities is Chicago, but it is far from the only one. Most of these homicides in Chicago are based around the drug trade. Both users and dealers are committing violent crimes in order to maintain their lifestyles, and the only way to get rid of that danger is to get rid of the people who are running and using the product.
Cook is well supported by other federal prosecutors. His record is impeccable, and the communities that he directly served experienced tangible improvements in the crime rate and in general quality of living.
Taking America back means taking back the streets from violent drug users and pushers, not giving them more room to operate. If anyone can accomplish this goal, it is the dual prowess of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and federal prosecutor Steven H. Cook.
~ Patriotic Freedom Fighter
